Telephone substation apparatus



Nov. 1, 1949 E. A. BESCHERER TELEPHONE SUBSTATION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, 1946 INVENTOR E. A. BESCHERER' A T TORNE V Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TELEPHONE SUBSTATION APPARATUS Application September 11, 1946,'Serial No. 696,110

4 Claims.

This invention relates to telephone substation apparatus and more particularly to mountings for hand telephones, especially suitable for use in mobile equipment, for example in motor vehicles.

One general object of this invention is to improve hand telephone mountings particularly adapted for use in mobile equipment.

More specifically, objects of this invention are to facilitate andinsure the placement of the hand telephone on the mounting in proper position to effect operation of the circuit controlling members, to prevent accidental dislodgment of the telephone, to protect the .hand telephone when not in use and tosimpliiy the construction of the mounting.

In one illustrative embodiment of this invention, a mounting for a hand telephone comprises a housing adapted to be supported below the dashboard of a motor vehicle, the housing having circuit controlling members supported therein and defining a chamber into which a hand telephone may be inserted longitudinally.

In accordance with one feature of this invention, the housing is provided with rails defining a guide for accommodating the handle of the hand telephone and effective upon insertion of the hand telephone into the housing to automatically position one of the telephone instrument housing portions upon the handle in operative relation 1 with the circuit controlling members.

In accordance with another feature of this invention, the circuit controlling mechanism comprises a plurality of contact springs and a pivoted actuating member therefor adapted to engage one of the instrument enclosing portions of the hand telephone, and means are provided in association with the actuating member for urging it firmly against this portion thereby to hold the hand telephone securely in place when it is inserted into the mounting.

The invention and the above noted and other features thereof will be understood more clearly and fully from the following detailed description tem included in the mounting shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the mounting therein illustrated comprises a housing, for example of sheet metal, including a body portion 10 to the top of which a plate II is aflixed as by screws 12. The plate H, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, is provided with bent-over parallel side ilanges l3 defining channels for slidably receiving a mounting plate M. The latter has secured thereto, as by bolts IS, a pair of mounting brackets l6 and 11, through the agency of which the mounting may be supported horizontally as in Fig. 1, below the dashboard of a motor vehicle.

Extending across the body portion l0 adjacent the rear end thereof is a plate I8 upon which electrical terminals, not shown, are secured. The rear of the housing 10 is closed by a cover member 19 in and by which substation instrumentalities, such as a ringer 29, are supported. The housing includes also a forwardly extendmg or overhanging portion 2|, closed at its bottom .by a plate 22 and at its front by a cap or cover 23, and defining a chamber wherein signal or indicator lamps 24 and a control switch 25 are mounted. The sides of the body l0 adjacent and below the overhanging portion 2! are cut away as indicated at 23 for reasons which will appear presently.

The bottom of the housing is defined in part by a pair of flanges 21 to which parallel rails 28, for example of hard rubber or a phenolic condensation product. are secured as by screws 29. The rails 28 are smoothly rounded at their outer end portions, as indicated at 30, and define a guide or channel 3! for accommodating the handle 32 of a hand telephone. The latter is provided at its ends with housing portions 33 in which the receiver and transmitter are enclosed. The channel 31 also serves as a guide for the telephone cord 5| extending from the hand telephone so that when the hand telephone is placed in the mounting, the cord slides to the rear of the mounting and, thus, is held out of the way.

Extending transversely of the overhanging portion 2! adjacent the inner .end thereof and affixed to the side walls of the housing is a U- shaped bracket 34 having side arm extensions 35, only one of which is shown, between which a shaft or axle 3B is supported. The shaft or axle 36 carries .an actuating member or rocker plate 31 which, .as indicated in Fig. 1, is adapted to be engaged by the transmitter end of the hand telephone. A double coil spring 38 is associated with the bracket 34 and rocker plate 31 and is piece 45 secured to the rocker plate 31 and movable therewith. The portion 46 of the actuating arm partly overlies the support 40 so that rocking of the arm 42 inthe counter-clockwise direction is limited and overstressing of thecontact springs 4| is prevented.

Connection between the contact springs 4 I, the switch 25 and indicator lamps 24 and the terminals upon the plate I8 is established by a multiconductor cable 41.

Mounted upon the plate I8 is a resilient buffer 49 which, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is positioned to be engaged by the transmitter end of the hand telephone and serves as a stop to prevent insertion of the hand telephone to a position beyond that for which the rocker plate 3'! remains in engagement with the transmitter end of the hand telephone.

When the hand telephone is inserted into the housing, the handle is engaged by the guide rails 28 and is positioned and guided thereby automatically so that the transmitter end engages the rocker plate 31 and slides into engagement with the buffer 49 while the face of the receiver end slides over the rounded portion 50 of the cap or cover 23. The rocker plate 31 is thus rocked and the contact springs 4| are actuated. As has been noted heretofore, the spring 38 urges the plate into firm engagement with the hand telephone so that the latter is locked against the guide rails 28 and the buffer 49. This locking prevents dislodgment of the hand telephone even though the mounting is subjected to severe shocks and jars such as occur in the operation of motor vehicles. Further, it will be noted that the hand telephone is substantially enclosed when in place on the mounting and thus is protected.

When it is desired to use the hand telephone, the receiver end may be grasped readily because of the cut-out portions '26, and the telephone may be withdrawn, being guided by the rails 28. The rocker arm 3'! rocks clockwise so that the screw 44 engages the portion 46 and the contacts 4| are operated.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that it is but illustrative and that Various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting for a hand telephone having a handle and a pair of spaced telephone instruments thereon, said mounting comprising a housing having a base portion and a wall provided with an aperture adjacent said base portion into which the hand telephone is insertable lengthwise, a pair of parallel members on said base portion, extending longitudinally thereof from adjacent said opening and spaced to define a guide for accommodating the handle of the hand telephone, circuit controlling means in said housing, actuating means for said circuit controlling means including a pivotally mounted operating member opposite said guide, projecting into the space into which the hand telephone is insertable and positioned to be engaged by one of the telephone instruments, and resilient means separate from said circuit controlling and actuating means for holding the hand telephone against said parallel members.

2. A mounting for a hand telephone having a handle and a pair of telephone instruments mounted at opposite ends of the handle, said mounting comprising a housing having a base portion and an opening adjacent said base portion through which the hand telephone is insertable lengthwise into said housing, a pair of parallel rails on said base portion defining a guide extending parallel to said portion from adjacent said opening, for slidably accommodating the handle of the hand telephone, a plate member extending transversely of said housing opposite said guide, pivotally mounted and positioned to be engaged by one end portion of the hand telephone, circuit controlling means actuable by said plate member, means for holding the hand telephone against said rails including resilient means separate from said circuit controlling means and coupled to said plate member, and stop means within said housing positioned to be engaged by said end portion and to prevent disengagement of said portion from said plate member upon insertion of said hand telephone into said housing.

3. A mounting for a hand telephone having a handle and telephone instruments at the ends of the handle, the mounting comprising a housing having a base portion, side walls, an opening adjacent said base portion through which the hand telephone is insertable lengthwise into ,the housing and a front portion overhanging said opening and said base portion, a pair of rails upon said base portion defining a guide for accommodating the handle of the hand telephone, means within said housing for limiting insertion of the hand telephone beyond the point where the outer end of the hand telephone is below said overhanging portion, contact springs Within said housing, means for actuating said springs comprising a plate pivotally mounted adjacent the inner end of said overhanging portion and positioned opposite said guide to be engaged by the hand telephone, and means including a helical spring coupled to said plate for holding the hand telephone against said rails.

4. A mounting for a hand telephone having a handle and a pair of spaced telephone instruments thereon, said mounting comprising a hous ing having a base portion and a wall provided with an aperture adjacent said base portion into which the hand telephone is insertable lengthwise, and a pair of parallel members on said base portion, substantially coextensive therewith, extending longitudinally thereof from adjacent said opening, and spaced to define a guide for accommodating the handle of the hand telephone.

EDWIN A. BESCHERER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Obergfell -1 May 8, 1945 

